The Martin Chronicles' Next Contest.

The Martin Chronicles reporters have been talking to people who are in a position to know. We've been meeting with some well-known civil engineers to make sure we have our terminology correct for our next contest.

First, some background information for you:

• Despite his false pledge to repeal it, Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin continues to take the UNFAIR $40 PER CAR STICKER TAX out of the wallets of every resident-allegedly for street repair and replacement.
• Despite proclaiming to the media during his 2010 dirbag mayoral campaign that he could find all of the additional money needed for the road repair and replacement budget out of the City's "existing budget", it appears all of the "extra money" the malingering Martin has "found" has been spent on LAWYERS AND LEGAL ACTIONS-instead of, again allegedly, road repair and replacement.
• Mayor MarTAX has also increased every resident's SNEAKY INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX BY FIFTY PERCENT-again, allegedly for road repair and replacement.

So, here is the contest. Contestants are asked to submit a list of all of the road repair and replacement the mismanaging Martin has gotten done since he took office on January 1, 2011. The contestant with the most complete list gets to join our beloved publisher for an all-expenses paid dinner at his favorite eatery, the Thai-Tanic Restaurant.



Mostly based on what the well-known civil engineers told us, here is what counts:

• FULL DEPTH REPLACEMENTS: This is where an entire street or a large portion of an entire street is totally torn out. Then proper under-drains are installed to prevent water from doing unseen damage underneath that street. Finally, new concrete is placed over the entire repaired area. (No, the recent work done by the Northern Kentucky Water District does not count.)
• ASPHALT OVERLAYS: This is where an entire street or a large portion of an entire street is first "milled down". Then asphalt is poured over the entire repaired area. Why? Well, our civil engineers tell us that overlay is done to extend the "life" of a failing street.

Mostly based on what the well-known civil engineers told us, here is what doesn't count:

• SLAB (OR MUD) JACKING: This is a process where a contractor shoots grout beneath a street to fill voids caused by water that runs beneath that street. All of our civil engineers advised us that this is mostly a fool's errand. Why? Because unless you have solved the running water problem, you have simply re-directed that water to undermine some other area of that street.
• CRACK SEALING: This is where a contractor pours hot tar in to the cracks of a street to prevent surface water from seeping in to the street. The seeping water will cause additional damage, especially during the "freeze-thaw cycle" of the fall and winter. So why doesn't that work count? Our well-known civil engineers advise us that "even a moron" would make sure that work is done every year. Perhaps these well-known civil engineers have never met Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin?

So, keeping in mind that the mismanaging Martin continues to collect huge sums of money from the taxpayers for a street repair and replacement program, send us your list of the road repair and replacement work Martin has done since taking office on January 1, 2011. The list that most closely demonstrates the truth of the road repair and replacement work Martin has done will be the winner.
 
You only have 55 days to decide whether or not we've asked you a trick question.